Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will start his first regular-season NFL game in Week 12 as the Browns face the Raiders, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Wednesday.
Stefanski also said Sanders will take all the first-team reps throughout the week in order to prepare him to start in Las Vegas.
"I think you're always trying to do that with all your players to make sure that they are comfortable, and it's no different with Shedeur in there," Stefanski said.
"You want to make sure that all the concepts are things that he feels confident in. Obviously, having been around him over the months, you get a good sense of the things that fit his eyes. So, definitely want to lean into those types of things, and he's working very hard."
QB Dillon Gabriel remains in the concussion protocol after he experienced symptoms at halftime of Week 11 against the Ravens. However, Stefanski said Gabriel continues to improve.
Sanders started the second half against Baltimore, and Gabriel was ruled out for the remainder of the game. He finished the game completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and one interception in the 23-16 loss to the Ravens. Following the game, Sanders acknowledged that he did not play his best game in the second half against the Ravens but believes he can grow from the performance and with another opportunity.
"I think it's a lot of things we need to look at, during the week and go and just get comfortable," Sanders said following the 23-16 loss to the Ravens. "I just think overall we just got to go next week and understand so then we have a week to prepare stuff I like to do."
Sanders has served as the backup quarterback since Week 6 following the trade of QB Joe Flacco. Gabriel started the previous six games, beginning in Week 5.
Before Sanders stepped in for the second half in Week 11, he last played during the preseason. He started the first week of the preseason against the Panthers, then played in the third and majority of the fourth quarter in Week 3 of the preseason against the Rams.
Throughout training camp, preseason and the regular season, Sanders has utilized the "hungry dogs" periods following practice to learn the offense and get extra reps on the practice field. The work he put in during those periods translated even in his first NFL regular-season game, helping him to understand the concepts in a live setting.
"I feel fulfilled overall when it comes to being out there practicing, going in between the lines, seeing actually what it's like. And I know I'm made for it," Sanders said on Nov. 16. "I was just excited because I knew what I was going to be able to do out there."
